Today's gospel passage addresses a very human temptation. After Jesus had fed the five thousand and after he and the disciples had left and travelled across the sea to Capernaum, the crowd that had stayed behind came looking for Jesus. When they arrived, Jesus did not turn them away, but he did question their motives: you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled (Jn 6:26).
If we too seek to follow Jesus, we too must question our motives. Why do we want to seek him out? Have we received some answer to our prayers? Has our prayer up until now had to do with asking for things, for success, for earthly gain? If so, Jesus cautions us, like he cautioned those who came looking for him that day: Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life (Jn 6:27). This sounds like an easy task but it is anything but easy.
Luckily for us, Jesus points out the first step of the process if we want to change our focus from earthly reward to eternal life: believe in the one that God has sent (Jn 6:29). Pray today for the grace to believe. God will open our eyes to see the world as he sees us, to love others as he loves us, and he will help us to work for the food that endures.
Have a great day.
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